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Should Converts Immigrate to Muslim Countries?

21 February, 2019
Q Should converts from Europe that fear for their faith make immigration to Muslim countries? What is the ruling on hijrah (immigration) today? Having lived in Muslim countries, I often find people without Islam in the UK, in a better condition with regards to morals and how they treat others. They don't have faith but they treat people better than they do in Muslim countries. Should a convert leave his family to make immigration?

Answer

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.


In this fatwa:

There is no reasonable justification for converts to leave their countries for Muslim-majority countries. If they are facing some troubles or challenges, they may face a double, though different of kind, in the Muslim countries.

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Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:

I do not see any reason for Muslims living in countries such as USA, Canada, or UK to immigrate to a Muslim country, even though they may face some pressures and challenges here and there.

Generally speaking, Muslims are free to practice their religion like everyone else. There is no persecution of Muslims, as far as I know, in any of these countries. If you are speaking about some of the challenges coming from Islam bashers or racists in these societies, they are isolated, and therefore, they do not warrant immigrating to other countries.

Another question should be asked in this context: If you were to decide to immigrate, which of the countries is willing to welcome you?

Mind you, you may end up facing far worse challenges in those countries. So, where would you go?

Moreover, if most, or all, new Muslims in the Muslim-minority countries left these countries, who would shoulder the responsibility in making dawah?

Almighty Allah knows best.

Editor’s note: This fatwa is from Ask the Scholar’s archive and was originally published at an earlier date.